Every Day Heroes

Draft National Voluntary Service-Dog Teams (SDT) Standard PollContextA Voluntary National Standard of Canada for service-dog teams is currently under development in order to establish a social progress benchmark that enhances quality of life and the human rights of service-dog teams and their families. Drafting the standard took into account the need to comply with, as well as enhance human rights and basic values through collaboration, learning, and the mobilization of knowledge.

A Dual LensTraditionally service dogs have been viewed through a medical model lens, however, over time the value of partnering with a service dog has been emphasized begetting the need to incorporate the human rights of the team so as to co-create accessible and socially inclusive communities. A combination of the medical and social lenses is therefore contributing to a more holistic and comprehensive understanding of the impact of canine-assisted living. For over 20 years, concerted collaborative efforts were made to address overlapping barriers and relevant issues pertaining to the exploitation of service dog teams and their families, but to no avail. As such Canada’s national standards system was sought in order to move forward as a caring nation.

Your feedback is needed regarding the draft National Voluntary Service Dog Team Standard

All responses will be anonymous and the collective feedback will be shared with the Standard's Technical Committee (voting members) to enhance the pending revisions collected during the public consultation phase held from May 2 until July 14th.

Thank you in advance for taking the poll and asking others to participate. ​

Canada’s Standards SystemStandards Council of Canada (SCC) was established by an Act of Parliament in 1970 to foster and promote voluntary standardization in Canada in order to advance the national economy, support sustainable development, benefit the health, safety and welfare of workers and the public, assist and protect consumers, and facilitate domestic and international trade. SCC is an independent Crown Corporation, although it receives some funding by Parliamentary appropriation. To learn more please visit http://www.scc.ca/en/about-scc.

The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) is one of eight Standards Development Organizations (SDO) in Canada accredited by SCC. CGSB is facilitating this standard’s development project to ensure a voluntary consensus-based approach guarding both the integrity of the process and the eventual publication of standard.

​The Evolution of the Service Dog MovementIn 1929, The Seeing Eye, Inc. introduced the first formal program for guide dogs in the United States. In 1981, The Mira Foundation opened its doors to institute a similar program, others followed thereafter. Today, this emerging unregulated field is comprised of independent dog trainers, non-profits, and charities. Canadians with disabilities, life-altering injuries and chronic illness and their families continue to face numerous barriers like public access issues, long waiting lists, and difficulty discerning which trainers and organizations can legitimately train and fundraise to establish service dog teams. Inconsistent legislation, terminologies and low incomes are also pivotal factors with respect to being able to either acquire and, or care for a service dog. In an effort to overcome these barriers some businesses have been selling identification cards and vests online, an unsafe and un-monitored practice putting the handler, canine and public at risk.About UsThe Canadian Foundation for Animal-Assisted Support Services (CFAS) is a national cross-disability public health charity (Foundation) that invests in the human-animal bond experience in order to build healthier and safer communities for and with people and animals. Our corporate vision is being the philanthropic leader that inspires and sustains the innovation, coordination, and integration of Animal-Assisted Support Services within Canada's health-care, social services, corrections, and justice sectors. To read more please visit http://www.cf4aass.org/development-of-a-national-standard-of-canada-for-service-dogs.html CFAS is a voting member on the Standard’s Development Technical Committee (TC). Information regarding Service Dogs in Canada and this project is available at http://www.cf4aass.org/service-dogs-in-canada.htmlPublic Consultation PhasePublic consultation of the draft standard was conducted from May 2, 2017 to July 14, 2017. In preparation of the September meetings, your response to this poll would be greatly appreciated. Collective responses will assist the Foundation in verifying and reinforcing the need to address the topics referenced within the poll during the September Technical Committee three-day meeting.If assistance is needed to respond to the poll, please email us at community@cf4aass.org or call 1-888-473-7027. To learn more about and to submit feedback concerning the Foundation’s proposed Canine-Assisted Living Initiative kindly visit http://www.cf4aass.org/canine-assisted-living.html